Festoon drier



June 9, 1953 A. H. PAGELL FESTOON DRIER Filed June 17, 194'? INVENTOR. 141/950 M PAGEZL BY 4. M

1978 ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FES'IOON DRIER Alfred H. Pagell, Brockton, Mass.

ApplicationJune 17 1947, Serial No. 755,176

Claims.

The present invention relates to festoon dryers of the type having a series of endless sub stantially horizontal festoon chains, an endless conveyor for delivering travelling sticks to the first festoon chain of said series and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the conveyor near the delivery end of the latter for the formation of the initial festoons.

One object of the present invention is to provide a festoon dryer in which the length of the initial fold or festoon is determined in a simple and efiicient manner and can be varied without changing the speed at which the various elements of the festoon dryer are driven.

Another object of the invention is to dispense with the cumbersome, heavy and expensive gearing connections which heretofore-have been used to drive the web delivery mechanism, the conveyor chain and the successive festoon chains from a single driving unit.

Furthermore, in festoon driers employing such gearing connections, it is extremely inconvenient to vary the mutual distances of the driving sticks on each festoon chain. It is, therefore, a'

further object of the present invention to provide means for controlling and varying the distances at which the travelling sticks are carried on each festoon chain in a simple and efficient manner and without the necessity of changing gears or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide each of the various units of the festoon dryer, such as the conveyor chain and the various festoon chains, with an independent intermittently operating driving unit and with control means whereby the length of the initial festoon and the mutual distances at which the travellingsticks are carried on the successive festoon chains can be controlled and varied independently of the speed of delivery of the material to the dryer.

These and other objects, which will appear matic and partial elevational View of a festoon.

dryer according to the invention.

In the drawing, I l is a substantially horizontal I endless festoon chain mounted on chain wheels 14 is part of a second festoon chain l2 and I3.

2 receiving travelling sticks from the chain l l and mounted at one end on a chain wheel coaxial with the wheel I3 and on the other end a similar chain wheel (not shown). A conveyor I5, provided with uniformly spaced pairs of dogs l6, serves to deliver travelling sticks 11 to the festoon= chain II. The conveyor I5 is inclined at 'an' angled about to the horizontal and is supported at its lower end by a chain wheel 18 and at its upper end by a chain wheel arranged co-' axially with the wheel I2. A delivery roller [9' feeds a web of material 20 to be dried continuously downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the conveyor I5 near the 1 delivery end of the latter for the formation of the initial festoons. v 4 v The chain wheel l8 of the conveyor I5 is driven by an electromotor 26 while the chain wheel l3 at the delivery end of the first festoon chain H is driven by a second electromotor 26a and the chain wheel (not shown) at the delivery end of the second festoon chain I4 is driven by still another electromotor (not shown).

A device 2| for producing a beam of light and a photoelectric cell 22 are disposed vertically adjustably on opposite sides of the space inwhich the initial iestoon 23 is formed and are adjusted relative to each other in such a way that the light beam emanating from source 2| is prevented from reaching the photoelectric cell 22' as soon as the initial festoon 23 has reached a predetermined length.

The energizing circuits of the festoon chain driving motors, such as motor 2611, are controlled by contacts 24-25 to be described in greater:

detail later on. I

The device operates as follows: a The delivery roller [9 feeds the web 20 of th each initial festoon 23, the conveyor I5 is at rest in the position shown because the energizing circuit of motor 26 is kept open at a contact 21, as-

long as a relay 23 in a control circuit 29 including the photoelectric cell 22 is energized while the cell 22 receives light from the source 2|. When the initial festoon 23 reaches the predetermined" length (shown in dotted lines in the figure), the

beam of light emanating fromthe source 2| is prevented from reaching the photoelectric cell 22, and the current in the control circuit 29 drops sufficiently to permit closing of the contact 2'! by means of the relay spring 30. As the contact 21 closes, the armature 3| of relay 28 is locked in contact closing position by means of a latch 32 controlled by a spring 33. The motor 26 starts and causes the travelling stick I! to deliver the festoon 23 to the festoon chain II.

A contact arm 34 is mounted at the receiving end of the iestoon chain I I so as to extend partly b yond the receiving end of the festoon chain and partly over the delivery end of the conveyor IS.

The free end of contact arm 34 is rovided with a telescoping portion 35 and with a set screw 35 whereby the length of the arm 34 is adjustable. The arm 34 carries one part of the contact 24 and closes this contact, as long as the arm 34 is lifted by the travelling stick ll passing under the length of arm 34. As a result, motor 26a which drives the festoon chain II is started as soon as a travelling stick I 1 reaches the free end of arm 34, and the festoon chain it is drivenuntil such stick I! has been moved past the rear end of this contact arm. The time interval dur ins which the festoon chain H is driven, and thus the mutual distance between adjacent travellin sticks on the festoon chain H, depends thus ex clu ively on the length of the contact arm 34 which can b easily adjusted to any desired value.

As each stick I! is carried past the receivin end of the icstoon chain Ii and starts its travel on this chain, the completed iestoon 23 is ad vanced to a position indicated by the reference numeral 23a in which its lower end does no longer intercept th path of the light from the source 2! to the photoelectric cell 22.

As a result, current will flow in the control cirsuit 29, but, at this time, the energizing circuit oi. motor [3 is not interrupted because contact 21 is kept closed by the latch 32.

when the conveyor chain l has travelled through a distance corresponding to that be tween two successive pairs of dogs 16, a. dog It enga es a p jecting portion of latch 32 and trips said latch against the action of spring 33. This permits the relay 28 to open the contact 21, thus stopping the motor 26 with the conveyor chain assuming again the position shown in the drawing in which the foremost travelling stick I! is disposed just rear-wardly of the web 20 fed con-- tinuously downwardly by delivery roller ill to produce the next initial festoon.

As each travelling stick I 1 reaches the delivery end of the festoon chain II, it passes below another contact arm 31 which extends from the receivin and of the second festoon chain 14 over the delivery end of the first festoon chain ;II and serves to close the contact 25 of he e dl'g circuit for the motor (not shown) driving the second iestoon chain M.

It will be understood that the contactarm 37 will be normally adjusted to a length less than that of contact arm 34 so that the travelling sticks I! will be carried on the second festoon chain. l4 at smaller mutual distances than on the. first festoon chain II, as well known in the art.

Various changes and modifications of construction are possible within the scope of the present invention. Thus it will be understood that the dryer may have two, three or more festoon chains arranged in series, each controlled by its own driving unit, and control mechanism.

Alternatively, the intermittent driving mochanism shown and described as applied to the con veyor chain, may be used in combination with a (ill so-called fixed festoon chain in which the initial loops are formed directly on the festoon chain in order to permit a simple control and variation of the festoon length.

In general, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the example shown and described, except as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a festoon drier, the combination with an endless, substantially horizontal festoon chain, an endless conveyor for delivering travelling sticks to the festoon chain and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the conveyor near the delivery end of the latter for the formation of the initial festoons, of a mechanism for intermittently driving the conveyor includingdetector means responsive to the initial formation of each festoon to operate whenever the festoon being formed reaches a predetermined length, means controlled by said detector means for starting the conveyor when said detector means operates, and means for stopping the conveyor after it has travelled through a distance equal to that between successive sticks carried thereon With th foremost stick on the conveyor in a position in which it permits downward feed 1 the formation of the initial festoons, ofconveyordriving means, a source of light, a photoelectric cell so positioned relative to said source of light that it is exposed to the light emanating fromsaid source until the initial festoon being formed, on reaching a predetermined length, intercepts the light, a control circuit including said photoelectric cell, relay means for starting the conveyor driving means when the current in said control circuit decreases due tothe interception of the light between said source and said photoelectric cell by th festoon being formed, and means for stopping said conveyor driving means when the conveyor has travelled through a dis tance equal to that between successive sticks carried thereon with the foremost stick on the conveyor in a position in which it permits downward feed of the web between itself and the last stick on the festoon chain.

3. A festoon drier as claimed in claim 2, in

which said source of light and photoelectric cell are adjustable to effect an upward and downward displacement of the point at. which a light beam travelling from the source of light to the photoelectric cell is interrupted by an initial festoon being formed, and thereby to change the predetermined len th of such festoon, at which the conveyor is started.

4. A festoon drier as claimed in claim 2, including an electric motor for driving said conveyor, an energizing circuit for said motor,.'a switch in said motor energizing circuit kept open by said relay in said control circuit as long as said photoelectric cell receives light from said source and closing automatically when the light is intercepted by the festoon being formed, latch means keeping said switch closed when the festoon formed is advanced by the festoon chain to a position in which it no longer prevents the light from reaching the photoelectric cell, and elements on the conveyor for tripping said latch after the conveyor has travelled through said predetermined distance.

5. A festoon drier as claimed in claim 2,including spaced pairs of dogs on said conveyorfor supporting the travelling'sticks, an electric motor for driving said conveyor, an energizing circuit for said motor, a switch in said motor energizing circuit kept open by said relay insaid control circuit as long as said photoelectric cell receives light from said source and closing automatically when th light is intercepted by the festoon being formed, and latch means keeping said switch closed when the festoon formed is advanced by the festoon chain to a position in which it no longer prevents the light from reaching the photoelectric cell, said latch means being'positioned to be tripped by one dog of each of' said stick supporting pairs of dogs on said conveyor.

' 6. In a festoon drier, the combination with an endless, substantially horizontal 'festoon chain, an endless conveyor for delivering travelling sticks to the festoon chain and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the conveyor near the delivery end of the latter for the formation of the initial festoons, of means for driving the festoon chain, detector means arranged lengthwise of a control path extending for a predetermined distance along the festoon chain from the point where the sticks are delivered to the chain in the direction of the chain travel means for starting said driving means when a stick, in travelling from said conveyor on to said festoon chain, enters the control path, and means for stopping said driving means when the stick leaves said control path.

'7. A festoon drier, as claimed in claim 6, in which said detector means for said festoon driving means is adjustable to vary the length of said control path traversed by each stick on its travel from the conveyor on to the festoon chain and, thus, the time during which the festoon chain is driven and the mutual distance of adjacent sticks carried on the festoon chain.

8. A festoon drier, as claimed in claim 6, including a second festoon chain arranged to receive travelling sticks from said first festoon chain, independent driving means for said second festoon chain, detector means arranged lengthwise of a control path extending for a predetermined distance along said second festoon chain from the point where the sticks are delivered to said second chain in the direction of the chain travel means for starting said driving means for said second festoon chain while .a stick, in travelling from said first festoon chain on to said second festoon chain enters the con trol path and means for stopping said driving means for the second festoon chain when the stick leaves the control path.

9. In a festoon drier, the combination with an endless, substantially horizontal festoon chain, an endless conveyor for delivering travelling sticks to the festoon chain and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the conveyor near the delivery end of the latter for the formation of the initial festoons, of an electric motor for driving the festoon chain, an energizing circuit for said electric motor including a normally open switch, said switch having a contact arm of a predetermined length extending over the delivery end of the conveyor and the receiving "endof the iestoo'n chainand so arranged that it is displaced to close said energizing circuitas long as a stick, in travelling from the conveyor on totli'e festoon chain,.passes under the length of said contact arm. I 10. A 'festoon drier, as claimed in" claim 9, in which said contact arm'is adjustable withxre gard to its length to permit of varyingthe mutual distance of adjacent sticks carried on the festoon chain.

11. In a festoon drier, the combination with a number of endless, substantially horizontal festoon chains arrangedin series, an endless conveyor having spaced apart pairs of dogs for supporting travelling sticks and for-"delivering the same to the first of said festoon chains, and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the conveyor near the deliveryend of the latter for the formation of the initial festoons, of a separatedrivingunit 'for each of said festoon-chains and said conveyor,-each driv ing unit including an electric motor and an energizing circuit therefor, a device emitting a beam of light, a photoelectric cell arranged to receive said beam of light until the initial festoon being formed has reached a predetermined length, a switch in the energizing circuit of said conveyor driving motor, a spring urging said switch into closed position, a control circuit including said photoelectric cell and a solenoid having an armature operatively connected with said switch, said solenoid tending to open said switch and to keep it open against the force of said spring as long as the light beam reaches said photoelectric cell, a latch for locking said switch in closed position and having a portion disposed adjacent said conveyor to be engaged by successive dogs on the conveyor to trip the latch, a normally open spacing switch in the energizing circuit of each festoon chain driving motor, and a contact arm of predetermined length at the receiving end of each festoon chain and extending rearwardly beyond said end to close the energizing circuit of the associated festoon chain driving motor while a stick passes under the length of said contact armon to the associated festoon chain, the length of said contact arms decreasing from the first festoon chain to each successive festoon chain.

12. In a festoon drier, the combination with a chain carrying mutually spaced sticks and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the chain for the formation of the initial festoons, of a mechanism for intermittently driving the stick carrying chain including detector means responsive to the initial formation of each festoon to operate whenever the festoon being formed reaches a predetermined length, means controlled by said detector means for starting the chain when said detector means operates, and means for stopping the chain after it has travelled through a distance equal to that between successive sticks carried thereon.

13. In a festoon drier, the combination with a chain carrying mutually spaced sticks and means for feeding a web of material to be dried downwardly in a plane intersecting the path of the sticks on the chain for the formation of the initial festoons, of chain driving means, a source of light, a photoelectric cell so supported relative to said source of light that it is exposed to the light emanating from said source until the initial festoon being formed, on reaching a predetermined length, intercepts the light,- acontrol circuit including said photoelectric cel1,- relay meansiorstarting the chain driving means when the current in said control circuit decreases due to the interception of the light between said source and said photoelectric cell by the festoon being formed, and means for stopping said driving means when the chain has travelled through a distance equal to that between successive sticks carried thereon.

/ 14. A festoon drier as claimed in claim 13, in which said source of light and photoelectric cell are adjustable to efiect an upward or downward displacement of the point at which a light beam travelling from the source of light to the photoelectricscell is interrupted by an initial festoon being formed, and thereby to change the predetermined-length of such festoon at which the chain is started.

- 15. A festoon drier as claimed in claim 13, ineluding an electric motor for driving said chain, an energizing circuit for said motor, a switch in-said energizing circuit kept open by said re- 8 Jay in-said control circuit as long as said photo electric cell receives light from said source and closing automatically when the light .is intercepted by the festoon being formed. and latch means keeping said switch closed when'the festoon formed is advanced to a position in which it no longer prevents the light from reaching the photoelectric cell, said latch means being ar-- ranged to be tripped when said stick carrying chain has travelled through a predetermined distance.

ALFRED H. PAGELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,871 Waldron July 21, 1885 640,170 Barlow Jan. 2', 1900 1,336,570 Lathrop et a1 Apr. 13, 1920 1,846,313 Constable Feb. 23, 1932 1,985,563 FitzGerald Dec. 25, 1934 2,440,346 Phillips Apr. 27, 1948 

